COROS PACE 3: BACKGROUND & INTRO

Back in 2020, Coros released the Pace 2, a small-but-mighty watch that ended up landing our Best In Gear award for best GPS watch of the year. It kind of came out of nowhere– while the original Apex and Vertix were both solid, the first Pace came before all of those, before Coros had even made a ripple in the running world. To be honest, I’m not even sure it was a GPS watch.

But the Pace 2– now that was a gem. After reviewing it, I actually thought the watch was priced too low for all its features. No, it didn’t have all the bells and whistles of a Garmin– no music, no maps, no wireless crapabilities. But it had everything a runner needed: crazy battery life, track mode, precision accuracy, and easily built workouts, all in a featherweight package. At $200, the bang easily equaled the buck.

That was three years ago. Since then, we’ve seen a ton of software updates and features across the Coros line, as well as new updates to the the Apex and Vertix lines. So what’s new with the Coros Pace 3? Let’s find out.

Emma Bates’ nails are on point

WHAT’S NEW IN THE COROS PACE 3

➤ Next-Generation GPS

The satellite accessibility is upgraded in this newest version, which can now access the five major satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Beidou, QZSS) with dual frequency for the most accurate signal possible. This is the same accessibility as in the higher-tiered watches like the Apex and Vertix.

➤ Battery Life

We thought the battery life in the original was already incredible, yet it’s somehow improved in the Pace 3, now with 38 hours of life in full GPS mode. Good luck finding your charger when  you only use it every three weeks.

Improved GPS and battery life

➤ Touchscreen & Onboard Storage

New to the Pace 3 is a touch screen, which is surprisingly useful at times though I usually forget it’s there because I’m so used to using the push crown dial. Additionally, you can now use Bluetooth headphones to connect and listen to music stored directly to the watch. This is a unique feature that other watches in the Pace price tier don’t have (i.e. Garmin Forerunner 55).

➤ New Activity Modes

Finally, Coros adds hiking, trail running, skiing, XC skiing, and snowboarding to its activity modes. It was always extremely puzzling to me that the watch was clearly targeted towards runners and had bread crumb navigation but lacked trail running and hiking modes, literally two of the most common activities for runners.

You probably won’t run Mags this fast, but you can pretend by setting your watch to metric

➤ Price Increase

Yes, the newest version has a price bump, but as I said earlier, I always thought the Pace 2 was priced low. Couple that with inflation and the $229 price tag is more than fair.

➤ Size and weight

Somehow, the size is smaller (.6 mm thinner) than the Pace 2 and the weight is essentially the same (1 gram more in the Pace 3). I was fully expecting it to be bigger and heavier, so I was pretty surprised to see it’s pretty much the same.

Optional always-on MIP display

OUR THOUGHTS

The Pace 3 hits all the right notes in terms of upgrades. Obviously it’s not going to be packed with premium features, those elements are reserved for the more higher-priced models. But it’s a big deal that Coros was able to bump up the battery life by nearly 30%, upgrade the GPS chipset, add some offline storage and a touchscreen, and still keep it incredibly lightweight.

If you’ve worn the Pace 2, you know how small and lightweight that watch is– it almost feels like a toy. I actually don’t understand how they could make the Pace 3 smaller, with more features. It’s quite impressive. All of this for $229.

Choose between nylon or silicone strap

One other note– after a teaser reel was posted to the Coros Instagram account, some commenters were speculating the display had been upgraded to an always-on AMOLED. That’s incorrect, and there’s just no way you can get 38 hours of battery with an AMOLED. It’s still a Memory-in-Pixel display; however, it does have an always-on option for extra brightness.

We’re testing the watch right now to measure the accuracy and battery, and so far, everything is holding up to the claims in the Coros pitch deck. More testing will come, but for now, we think Coros has another winner on their hands.

If you’re looking for a simple and sleek GPS watch with good design and the simplest user interface out there, then you can’t do much better than the Pace 3.

At launch, the watch will come in four variations: black with silicone strap, black with nylon strap, white with silicone strap, and white with nylon strap. Additionally, a red Pace 3 Track model will be available for purchase in October.

The Coros Pace 3 is available now for $229.

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOKA SKYWARD X

THOMAS: It’s 2011 and my throat is dry. The landscape is dust and rocks; if it weren’t for the cactus and scrub brush, you could mistake the place for Mars. Two local Arizona runners invited my Ragnar team for a post-flight jog through the desert. Those same runners were wearing the most enormous shoes I had ever seen.

“What are those??” I asked.

“Hoka One One Mafate.” 

Was that Italian? Nothing that came out of the man’s mouth made sense to me. At that time, 20 mm of stack was the norm, if not high. The shoes looked ridiculous to me and I had no interest in them at the time. It took me nearly three more years before I would try a Hoka. What seemed ginormous at the time is now the standard stack height when it comes to running shoes. 

Ironically enough, we’ve seen those lower stack brands transcend Hoka when it comes to platform-style trainers– shoes like the Adidas Prime X 2 Strung, Asics Superblast, New Balance SC Trainer, Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro, and more. So it was high time for Hoka to throw their weight around with a shoe whose stack height matched the history of the brand.

Enter the Hoka Skyward X, a true embodiment of Hoka big.

MEAGHAN: “When are we getting those?” That was my first question when I saw the Skyward X leaked on Instagram. I’m a sucker for high stack and a good time, which is exactly what the Hoka Skyward X screams. How can you not be intrigued? Built on over 45 mm of stack, a suspension system with a carbon fiber plate, and a mix of Peba and supercritical EVA foam in the midsole, this shoe has everything interesting in running right now. Finished off with a flat knit upper, traditional Hoka rocker shape and a rubber outsole, this trainer looks like a Hoka, but feels like an upgrade. Does all this fun tech justify the $225 price tag? Let’s talk about it.

CHAD: After years of slipping behind the big players like Nike, Adidas, Saucony, etc., Hoka has stepped up its game as of late and dropped some incredibly solid shoes in every category. The Clifton 9 was a big hit as a daily trainer (as usual), the Rocket X 2 was one of the crew’s favorite race day shoes of 2023, and recently the Cielo X1 staked its claim as one of the most fun shoes we’ve ever worn. Other than the widely maligned Arahi 7 (quite possibly the worst shoe of 2024), Hoka is close to entering “they can’t miss” status with every release. I almost expect to hear “HE’S ON FIRE” when I open the box and lace up a new pair of Hokas, like I’m in the OG NBA Jam arcade game.

What shoe is “heating up” now? The Skyward X, the max to the max cushioned super trainer. I, like Meg, saw this popping up on Instagram and Reddit before its release and my interest was piqued immediately. The look reminded me of the New Balance SC Trainer v1 in terms of stack height, which I’ll admit was a shoe I never ran in because I was terrified of the height. Since then I have run in other high stack shoes (Adidas Prime X Strung 2 and the Asics Superblast), so I’ve sort of put those fears to rest.  Meg hit on the specs of the Skyward X, so let’s get to the good stuff.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THE HOKA SKYWARD X

THOMAS: The cushioning in the Skyward X is otherworldly. Upon landing, you feel the Peba give and soften the effects of gravity. The plate stabilizes the impact and is paired perfectly with the firmer carrier foam. Here comes the magic. Like a trampoline, the Peba expands and returns the energy to your stride. It is a near-perfect blend of soft and responsive cushioning. There is plenty of rubber on the outsole, and it is holding up as well as you would expect. 

The upper construction is nothing special until you realize it cradles your foot securely over the massive midsole. The laces loop through a system like a sling that goes down both sides of the upper, creating a hammock for your midfoot. You are locked in very comfortably between that and a reinforced heel counter. Breathability is moderate to warm. My size 10.5 fits true to size.

Between the sturdy upper, two performance foams, the carbon plate, and a fair amount of rubber on the outsole, the Skyward X should last well over the 300-500 mile mark, which is good considering the price tag.

MEAGHAN: As you probably guessed from my intro, I couldn’t wait to lace this one up. Between a layer of Peba beneath the foot, a carbon fiber plate and 46 mm of stack, it felt like this shoe was built for me. The step-in feel is plush and comfortable and the shoes fit true to size. There is ample room in the forefoot and toe box and the simple, stretchy laces keep the foot locked down well. I never had any issues with rubbing or hot spots and shoes are just generally very comfortable. 

Out on the roads, this shoe comes to life. The best way to describe the sensation is: fun. It feels like running on mini trampolines; there is absolutely no ground feel (here for it), just a fun, springy sensation underfoot. And while you get the benefit of being a few inches taller with all that stack, because of its wide build and deep foot frame, the shoes feel quite stable.

CHAD: Where do I even start? This shoe is an engineering marvel, like the Eiffel Tower or the Hoover Dam. The Skyward X has 48 mm of soft and bouncy foam with a “suspension midsole plate” sandwiched in the middle. The rebound from the Peba based foam underfoot, the stabilization from the plate, and the intense rocker provide for a smooth ride that can best be described as fun. Meg’s analogies to mini-trampolines is particularly apt, even for a guy my size. I felt a bounce on each step of my runs, which ranged anywhere from 3 miles to 8 miles. I could easily see myself taking these well into the double digits.

The bounce is great and all, but the true beauty comes from the fact that the shoe is also stable. At no point did I ever feel any wobble medially or laterally. Add in the fact that the Skyward X features a pretty comfortable upper as well that locks you in over the platform, this shoe is a real winner.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE ABOUT THE HOKA SKYWARD X

THOMAS: My colorway is clownish. The Skyward X isn’t a shoe I look at and get excited to strap on. However, you won’t remember the looks once you start moving, and the additional height is good for the ego.

Shoes are getting expensive, and there is no way around it– $225 is a nut to shell out for a daily trainer, even if it does feel this good on your feet.

Finally, this boat is heavy. For a size 10.5 US, it weighs 11.8 oz. / 337 grams! That’s nearly a half-ounce heavier than the original New Balance SC Trainer. The responsive feel of the midsole helps a lot, but you still notice the weight.

MEAGHAN: We obviously have to talk about the weight in this section: my women’s 7.5 comes in at 9.4 oz. (!). That’s a whole lotta shoe. However, the weight feels distributed evenly, so it’s less noticeable out on the roads vs. a shoe that feels bottom heavy (cough, Prime X 2, cough).

CHAD: I agree with Thomas that the white, red, blue, and yellow colorway has a Playskool “My First Super Trainer” look to them. Not particularly inspiring, despite looking otherwise clean. The weight can be noticeable at times, but it doesn’t bother me the way it does for Meg; it feels balanced between the upper and the midsole. At some point I’ll stop including this in my Hoka reviews because it is expected at this point, but the midfoot narrows out quite a bit and could cause issues for those with flat feet or a wide midfoot.

My only other negative is that– despite a good amount of outsole rubber– the grip is not fantastic. I took these out on a 6-mile run in the rain and I had a few dicey moments cornering or if I ran on the lines on the road.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE HOKA SKYWARD X

THOMAS: When I think about Hoka and what the brand stands for, I think of comfort, cushioning, and experimentation. I thought Hoka had fallen asleep the last few years, and other brands came in to fill the category with better foams and lighter performance trainers. This year, Hoka is coming back swinging. The Skyward X is the modern version of the company’s original vision. I could take on stupid distances in this shoe. Between the Mach 6, the Cielo X1, and the Skyward X, I have been impressed with the re-energized direction in the Hoka road shoe lineup.

MEAGHAN: As I’m writing this review, I’ve worn the Hoka Skyward X for every single mile I’ve logged this week. It’s very rare that I will lace up a shoe multiple days in a row, let alone an entire week, but I’m really enjoying this one. I’m also in a phase of my training that doesn’t include much (or any) speedwork, so I can wear these shoes everyday. While the Skyward X might not be your do-it-all shoe, it’s by far the most fun and maybe my favorite shoe for all of the non-speedy days. I’m on my way to logging 200 miles, and we’ll share a YouTube video soon with those thoughts.

CHAD: Well, it’s a clean sweep. The Skyward X is something truly special, and can be thoroughly enjoyed by heavyweights like me, featherweights like Meg, and whatever weight class Thomas puts himself in; I’ll let him make that call. I most certainly won’t hit 200 miles in the same time Meg will, but I could definitely see this being a shoe I reach for time and time again, especially for long and easy efforts.

A NEW BREED OF RUNNING APPAREL

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that we love run culture. We remember the days of all-neon block colors, subpar performance fabrics, and zero style. But we’ve been lucky enough to see the full bloom of the sport and its personality as its taken off over the last half decade. 

While brands like Tracksmith, Janji, and Path Projects spearheaded the trend of outside-the-box run apparel, many others have since taken up the torch in an attempt to put their own personal stamp on the run scene. We’ve seen some of our favorite pieces come from newer brands like Bandit, Roark Run Amok, Saysky, and Ciele. 

Praise Endurance

Praise Endurance Portland short

In fact, there’s so many run brands making their debut that it’s often hard to highlight each of them. That’s why we wanted to gather up some stuff that we’ve been checking out and bring it to new eyes, so you can see what’s coming in the run world and whether or not that fits your own personal style. 

Some of them are more established (AllWrld), while others are just a couple of people looking to create high-quality gear that’s fully made in America (Miler Running). Check them out and see what fits your style.

ITALIAN RUN APPAREL

CASCADA

Before Cascada reached out to us, I’ll be honest– I never heard of them. Which is a shame because they make some really nice gear, which is designed and rigorously field tested in the lakes, woods, and mountains of Northern Italy (Trentino). The branding is very outdoorsy (in a good way) and has similar vibes as Roark Run Amok, another favorite of ours.

The apparel is pretty standard run apparel, offering everything from long sleeve shirts to shorts and windbreakers. For off the run, there are some really nice button downs and flannels that are perfect fall. My personal favorite piece is their made-in-Italy Wolf Running Short ($77), featuring 4-way stretch fabric and a 5” inseam that’s cut perfectly. It’s one of the more comfortable running shorts I’ve worn in recent memory, and I found myself wanting to wear it for a majority of my runs.

They’re also pretty deep in the cycling scene, so if you dabble in the two-wheel world, then you should definitely check out those kits as well, from jerseys to bib shorts.

Our Cascada Picks

Cascada Howling Button Up$96 (on sale)

Cascada Wolf Running Shorts$77

MADE IN NEW YORK CITY

MILER RUNNING

Technically we’ve highlighted Miler Running before (and recently had the founder as a guest on the podcast). But they’ve recently debuted some new items in their lineup, so we thought we should re-up. 

Designed and manufactured in New York City, Miler takes a designer approach to run apparel, which is apparent straight away. No bold logos, just a simple sublimated name plate on each piece of gear. Quiet luxury is so hot right now, and Miler is making sure the torch stays lit for the running world.

All of the brand’s apparel is made of high-quality fabrics sourced from European and Japanese mills, and uses the latest technology and construction techniques to provide comfortable and durable performance gear. Flat lock seams, four-way Italian stretch knit, and pockets in all the right places.

Our Miler Running Picks

Miler Running Base Tight$125

Miler Running Work Running LS Tee$110

CANADIAN COOLNESS

PRAISE ENDURANCE

Apparently, all the cool kids are in Canada these days. Ciele, Norda, and now, Praise Endurance, create the holy trinity of run brands coming from our northern neighbor. Praise is all about community, recognizing that everyone in the production process plays a vital part. From the designers to the textile workers to the Praise ambassadors– everyone is a part of the Praise fam. 

That’s all well and good, but how’s the gear? Pretty great. We’ve been wearing and testing the Praise Endurance men’s and women’s apparel over the past few weeks, and have really come to enjoy running in it.

One of our favorite pieces on the men’s side is the Portland 2-in-1 Short ($96), featuring a soft and light stretch outer shell layered over a soft inner tight. The Tucson Anorak ($154) is also pretty rad. 

On the women’s side, the Osaka short ($76) is a technical eas-on short with adjusted side pockets and is complemented perfectly by the Montana stretch sports crop top ($67) made in a shape soft knit. 

Praise Endurance Osaka Shorts

We also love the way that Praise organizes its offerings, split between city, trail, and track running, as well as different fabric types. Then there’s apres-sport, which is just a cool way to say lifestyle clothing. Are we cool? Probably not, but putting on some Praise definitely moves us forward in our journey.

Our Praise Endurance Picks

Praise Endurance Portland Shorts$96

Praise Endurance Montana Crop$67

HOUSTON COLLECTIVE

NJÖRD

Okay, you may think you’re seeing the same thing twice, but you’re not. Njord has a similar design aesthetic to the aforementioned Miler Running, but at a lower price point (the gear isn’t made in New York City). 

Njörd (named after the Norse god of the sea) started as a Houston crew designed to bring runners together with a mission to aid underserved communities. The apparel is inspired by their Scandinavian and Taiwanese heritage and is engineered to last a lifetime of performance.

They’re advocates of doing good with their dollars and donate a portion of all proceeds to non-profit partners. They produce in limited quantities to avoid leftover waste. And while the product is produced overseas (it’s designed in Texas), Njörd partners with factories under the bluesign standard, which ensures the responsible use of resources and minimizes the impact on the environment while safeguarding human health.

Anyway, on to the gear. Right now, Njord only has four pieces of apparel (again, aligning with their commitment to creating less waste): a t-shirt, singlet, shorts, and hat. Our favorite piece is the Kaffe Singlet ($55) made of lightweight recycled polyester and is constructed with flatlock stitching and bias-bound seams. It has enough room through the chest and shoulders but tapers down, allowing for good range of motion.

And we like black on black on black, so this all ties together very nicely.

Our Njörd Picks

Njörd Kaffe Singlet$55

Njörd Origin Cap$35

ECO-FRIENDLY ATHLEISURE

ALWRLD

While not strictly run performance, ALWRD exists in the same space as Vuori or Lululemon. What sets them apart is their hardcore dedication to an environmentally sustainable business model. Their apparel is constructed with a variety of recycled materials or natural fibers and they assign a clean score to every piece of apparel they make. The overall clean score for the Fall 2023 collection is 87%.

In terms of apparel, it’s pretty standard offerings: shirts, shorts, tees, jackets, and joggers. But the comfort and fit of ALWRLD is equal to its competitors.

Our favorite piece at the moment is the ALRN High Viz 7” short ($68) which is made from 100% recycled plastic derived from post-consumer plastic waste. A soft elastic waistband and vented side seams make it a good athletic short for any endeavor. 

On the women’s side, Meg’s been enjoying the ALRN Crop Mesh Singlet ($65), featuring an ultralight Birdseye knit for excellent breathability. The ALRN Featherweight Short ($68) is superb as well and is made from recycled polyester, derived from post consumer plastic. 

It also features a warp knit waistband construction, which provides great support without constriction.

Our ALWRLD Picks

ALWRLD ALRN 7″ Hi Viz Short$68

ALWRLD ALRN Crop Mesh Singlet$58